Selecting the correct synthetic gear oil is difficult!

Selecting the correct synthetic gear oil is made difficult not only because of the different types of synthetic lubricants available, but also the question: why should I move away from mineral based oil?

Synthetic base oils, unlike their petroleum counterparts, are built from the molecular level. The molecules can be manipulated to improve specific lubrication characteristics. With their consistent and predictable chemical structures, and exceptional performance profiles, synthetic oils are displacing petroleum oils that can no longer meet the needs of
demanding applications.

The best known of the synthetic oils' advantages is their ability to function at both very low and very high temperatures. In fact, engineers typically turn to synthetic oils because of extremes in operating temperatur e. Sometimes these limitations can be overcome by lubricant additives, but many additives are expensive or contain undesirable components. In general, it is far more efficient to use an optimal base oil--and use additives to enhance specific performance features--than to try to make up for a base oil's shortcomings with additives.

In contrast, selecting the correct synthetic gear oil can tolerate a much wider range of temperatures. At higher temperatures, synthetic lubricants are less volatile than petroleum-based products, and they have lower pour points, meaning that they continue to flow at temperatures below those at which petroleum oils become intractable.

Selecting the correct synthetic gear oil can extend gear life.

When selecting the correct synthetic gear oil should be considered.

Selecting the correct synthetic gear oil can succeed where mineral gear oils have reached their performance limit and can no longer meet the application requirements; for example, at very low or high temperatures, extremely high loads, extraordinary ambient conditions, or if they fail to meet special requirements such as flammability. Even though additives can improve many properties of mineral oils, it is not possible to exert an unlimited influence on all their properties. This applies especially to physical properties like the following:

• thermal resistance 
• low temperature properties (fluidity, pour point) 
• flash point 
• evaporation losses 

Synthetic oils provide a number of advantages. However, they do not necessarily out-perform mineral oils in all respects and may even result in some drawbacks despite their advantages.


The advantages of synthetic lubricating oils (depending on the base oil) include:

• improved thermal and oxidation resistance 
• improved viscosity-temperature behavior, high viscosity index (in most cases) 
• improved low temperature properties 
• lower evaporation losses 
• reduced flammability (in some cases) 
• improved lubricity (in some cases) 
• lower tendency to form residues 
• improved resistance to ambient media

Selecting the correct synthetic gear oil Based On Polyglycols.

These lubricants ensure especially low friction coefficients, which makes them suitable for gears with a high sliding percentage (worm and hypoid gears). With the appropriate additives, they provide excellent antiwear protection in steel/bronze worm gears, and have a good extreme pressure performance. In gear systems, higher polarity polyglycols allow greater interaction on the metal gear surface. This gives polyglycols mild extreme pressure performance even without additives.

Selecting the correct synthetic gear oil Based On Ester Oils.

Ester oils are the result of a reaction of acids and alcohols with water splitting off. There are many types of esters, all of them having an impact on the chemical and physical properties of lubricants. In the past, these lubricating oils were mainly used in aviation technology for the lubrication of aircraft engines and gas turbines as well as gear systems in pumps, starters, etc.

Selecting the correct synthetic gear oil based on Ester oils is usually made because of their high thermal resistance and excellent low temperature behavior. In industrial applications, rapidly biodegradable ester oils will gain importance because it seems possible to achieve the same efficiency as with polyglycol oils by selecting an appropriate ester base oil.

Certain ester oils may exhibit low hydrolytic stability. Hydrolysis is the cleavage of the ester into an alcohol and an acid in the presence of water. Ester lubricants need to be hydrolytically stable because they are often exposed to humidity in use. In practice, hydrolysis may be a less serious problem than commonly reported. The hydrolytic stability of an ester depends on:

• the type of ester used 
• the type of additives used
•  how the ester was processed 
• the application 

Understanding the differences between gear oils can make selecting the correct synthetic gear oil easier, but it’s still important that, before selecting the gear lubrication you seek advice. The Professionals at Habot Oil not only produce high quality synthetic lubricants, but can also help in selecting the correct synthetic gear oil.